Team Malaysia

Monday, March 17, 2014

Stalemate

AZLAN SHAH CUP: Malaysia fight back to snatch draw against South Korea

MALAYSIA came back from two goals down to hold Asian champions South
Korea to a 2-2 draw in a dramatic Azlan Shah Cup match in Ipoh
yesterday.

With seven players earning their first caps in this tournament,
nobody would have expected Malaysia to hold an experienced Korean side
but they did it with sheer determination, and great help from goalkeeper
Hafizuddin Othman, who only earned his second cap yesterday, but was
named as man-of-the match for his saves which kept Malaysia in the match
until the second half fightback.
Malaysia started on an unfortunate note as skipper and most
experienced defender on the field Azlan Misron went out for a nose bleed
treatment, and the Koreans nailed the lead while he was out as Oh Dae
Keun scored in the 10th minute.

Malaysia tried their best for the equaliser, but bungled at the final
touch on numerous occasions while Azlan Shah Cup debutant goalkeeper
Hafizuddin Othman, 22, brought out a handful of super saves to keep
Malaysia in the match as the clock ticked towards the half-time.

However, with five more minutes to the half-time, Dae Keun bagged
his brace when he connected home a cross and Malaysia went into the
dressing with a mammoth task to salvage the game, as they only had one
shot at goal and no penalty corner to show after 35 minutes.

The national players put up a brace front after the breather, but
50 minutes into the match, they still failed to find the break.

However, the fire was ignited in the 56th minute when Firtri Saari
won Malaysia's first penalty corner. The corner was almost botched by
poor stopping, but Shahril Saabah took it on his own accord to salvage
it by scoring a reverse stick goal.

With 11 minutes remaining on the clock, the possibilities opened up
for the young Malaysian side. And they won the second penalty corner in
the 65th and Faizal Saari nailed the equaliser with a high flick, and
shared the spoils with mighty Korea.

Malaysian coach K. Dharmaraj was pleased with his youth power: "When
we went into the dressing room 0-2 down, I told them we have nothing to
lose and to start playing an attacking game as we have young legs to
run down the Koreans and it worked.

"Against Canada, we will also be looking for a win as now we have a
better chance of playing in the final after holding Korea to a draw,"
said Dharmaraj.

Malaysia meet Canada today, and coach Anthony Farry said he was
wary of the speedy Malaysians: "I was not around for the series
(friendlies where Malaysian won 6-1, 5-1 and lost 5-4 to Canada in
Malacca before the Azlan Shah Cup) but from what I have watched on
video, they have great trapping skills and are very fast so I expect
another tough match."

In another match, defending champions Australia cruised to a 6-0
victory over Canada to further consolidate their chances of lifting
their eighth Azlan Shah Cup title since its inception in 1983.
The Aussie goals were scored by Glenn Simpson (10th), Jeremy Hayward
(26th), Nicholas Budgeon (34th), Russlee Ford (46th), Jacob Whetton
(53rd, 63rd).